CHESTERMERE – Earlier this year, a small group of residents with a “service above self” attitude began meeting locally as the Chestermere Rotary Club.
The group, which now consists of 12 members, is still in it’s provisional stages so they are now actively seeking more people to join not only so that they can become an official club, but also so that they can become a more active and helpful group for the community in the future.
Interim president Mahmud Abdulla said that he is excited to see where the club goes in the community, although the Rotary Club isn’t all about charity work.
“We may end up doing that kind of work or helping members in the community with what they need, but at the end of the day, Rotary is about fellowship, friendship, and ethics,” he said. “Charity work comes in to play in our group, sure, but it’s the fourth pillar.
“The group is really about forming a network of professional men and women that work together to build a relationship together, before going out into the community.”
The realization that Chestermere could possibly sustain a club of its own came from local resident Bill Quinney. He brought the idea before council earlier this year and was given the green light to move forward.
Abdulla said that they are looking ahead to see what events they can be involved in, so that they can hopefully providing their skills to help with what needs to be done.
“Being there and offering any expertise that we may have for any community group or function is what is important to us,” he said. “There are lots of needs to be fulfilled in the community, and we hope to help where we can.
“To be member of Rotary, you really just need a community-minded spirit, because we like to be involved.”
The Chestermere Rotary Club meets every Thursday evening at 5 p.m. at the Lakeside Greens clubhouse. The meetings last for an hour, and typically involve reports and discussion, a guest speaker, and some casual chat time.
“Rotary is a non-political, non-religious organization,” Abdulla said. “Anyone is welcome, we are definitely not an old boys club.
“It’s a good way to get involved in Chestermere, and a good way to meet new, like-minded people.”
Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million members.. Known as Rotarians, members provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and seek to help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in the world.
Their motto is “Service Above Self”, and their main objective is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.
For more information about the local club, find them on Facebook or e-mail rotarychestermere@gmail.com.
